Charles beach



c. BEACH.

Corn Sheller.

No. 60,825. Patented Jan.1, 1867.

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IMPROVEMENT IN CORN-SELLERS.

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TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, CHARLESBEACH, of Penn Yan, in the county of Yates, andState of New York, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Corn-Shellers; and 11110 hereby declare that the-following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a central vertical section of my lmproved machin.

Figure a similar section, but at right angles to fig. 1.

Figure 3 perspective view of the shelling apparatus detached.

Figure 4, longitudinal vertical section of the discharge chutes.

Figure 5, perspective view of one of the steel sections or staves of the shellingbed detached.

Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

L My invention consists, first, in the combination of an adjusting ring with the shelling bed, composed of steel sections or staves, so arranged that the elasticity or yieldingness of said bed may be varied at pleasure; second, in the employment of inclined wings in the hopper for the purpose of giving direction to the ears of corn and preventing breaking of the cobs; third, in the employment of curved arms at the bottom of the shelling cylinder orcone, in combination with a perfiorated floor for allowing the passage of the shelled corn, and a discharge opening for the escape of the cobs; fourth, in the arrangement of reverse chutes in connection with the machine for the purpose of separating the corn from thecobs; fifth, the special construction and arrangement or" the machine as a whole.

A suitable frame, A, is provided, on which is mounted a hopper, B, having inclined wings, a a, within it. Beneath this is situated. the shelling bed or concave, C, which is made in the form of a hollow cylinder; it is i composed of a series of flat sections or staves, b, secured at the top by means of rivets or bolts. The sections extend down a suitable distance to form the necessary length of shelling surface, and the necessary yieldingness or elasticity is produced by the natural elasticity of the sections themselves, thus avoiding the application of artificial springs. In forming these sections, I simply take pieces of steel of the proper length, width, and thickness, and stamp them by means of a die that forms the teeth, e e, at one stroke. Around the bed or concave is situated a simple ring, I), that rests on screw-bolts, c c. This ring is made to adjust higher or lower, as shown in black and red lines, fig. 1, by means of nuts resting. under the ring and turning up or down. Within the bed or concave rests the ordinary shelling cylinder or cone, E, with its spindle resting in bearings, cl (Z. The construction of the bed or concave C in this manner, of the spring sections 6 Ir, is exceedingly simple and effective. No artificial springs are required, as in other arrangements, but the sections themselves furnish the requsite elasticity. The arrangement is much cheaper than where stiff" iron staves are employed, which must be connected in a peculiar manner at the top, and which must have the aid of separate springs to give them the desired elasticity. The sections in my case are struck with the necessary teeth at one blow of the swage. The ring D adjusting higher or lower on the outside of the bed, enables me to giveany desired stifiness to the sections, by which means I am enabled to adjust the action exactly to the size of the-ears of corn, or the difii- A culty of removing the kernels. In green corn, or that which is only partially dried, it is necessary to apply much more force than in that which is perfectly seasoned, and in the latter case, if undue force is applied, the cob is easily broken. I can adjust the bed exactly to thenecessities of the case. The employment ofthe adjustable ring also insures an equal and uniform action of all the sections, since all are alike confined. Wheresep-arate springs are employed to hold the sections in place the action is unequal, owing to the fact that in long. use somelose '9 their elasticity in a greater degree than others. The ring is applicable particularly to this arrangement of the shelling bed, where the sections themselves produce the necessary elasticity; where detached springs are employed, it cannot easily be applied. The inclined wings a a of the hopper direct the ears of corn down endwise, thus presenting them properly to the shelling teeth, and preventing choking and breaking of the cobs, which would ensue were they to pass in horizontally. To the bottom of the cylinder or cone E, are secured arms, G G, curving away from the direction of motion. Bh'tfikfkt'll these arms is a perforated door or diaphragm, H, whose perforations or meshes are of such a size as to allow the ready passage of the shelled corn, but still exclude the cobs. In one side of the machine near the perforated floor is made a discharge outlet,f, of

such size as to allow a free passage of the cobs. My machine is particularly designed for use in large mills for shelling corn in large quantities and very rapidly. In such rapid work the cobs would collect beneath and obstruct the passage of the corn, were not some provisions made for their discharge. The curved arms rapidly sweeping over the perforated floor, strike the cobs and'force them through the outlet f. In very rapid shelling, even were there no obstruction from the cobs, the corn itself would be liable to clog. Any difficulty of this kind is obviated by the employment of the curved arms. Beneath the perforated floor is an inclined board, I, which throws the shelled corn outward and discharges it. Under this board is a horizontal one, K, which forms a thin air passage, g, occupying the whole diameter of the"inachine and connecting at the inner end with an exhaust fan, P, and opening at the outer end directly beneath the sheet of corn falling from board I. The corn :as it escapes is thus subjected to a draught that effectually frees it of all hulls and impurities. The cob passage fopens on to an inclined perforated chute, L, of wire cloth or equivalent at the side of the machine, through which such corn as'is driven through with the (subs passesi Beneath this is situated an inclined discharge board, M, which-conducts the corn back in the same direction with that discharged from board I. The cobs pass out over the chute L. At the lower end of this chute is a hinged valve, N, which serves to prevent the corn from clashing out, butstill allows the free escape of cobs. In this manner I am enabled to perfectly separate the corn .and cobs, and properly discharge both.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is v 1 The adjustable ring D, in combination with the shelling bed composed of the spring sections 6 b, operating substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein specified.

2. The combination of the'inclined wings a a, with the hopper B, shelling bed (land cylinder or cone E, arranged and operating as herein set forth. I

3. The combination of the curved arms G G, with the perforated floor H, and cob outletf, when arranged in connection with the shelling mechanism 0 E, substantially as described. I

4. In combination with the subject-matter of the preceding claim, the arrangement of the perforated chute L, with hinged valve N, and the reverse discharge board M,-the whole-arranged and operating as described.

5. The special construction and arrangement of the machine, consisting essentially of the bed 0, cylinder or cone E, arms G G, perforated floor H, discharge board I, exhaust fan P, and the inclined chutes L'M, operating substantially as set forth. i

In witness whereofI have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES BEACH.

lVitncsses I CHARLES ELMENDORF, JOSEPH ELMENDORF. 

